Final answer:
Wildlife populations were dramatically impacted by habitat destruction and overhunting following settlement and expansion. Deforestation and land conversion led to habitat loss, while overhunting reduced animal numbers, both of which had cascading effects on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wildlife populations declined dramatically after settlement due to habitat destruction and overhunting. Habitat destruction, often caused by deforestation and land conversion for agricultural and settlement purposes, drastically reduced the natural environments available for wildlife, leading to population declines.
Overhunting, amplified with the advent of firearms and incentivized by trade with European goods, further depleted many species. These practices led to significant decreases in species such as the North American bison and beaver populations, with broader ecosystem impacts including the loss of keystone species and subsequent changes in local flora and fauna dynamics.